Hebrews 11:39-40: Some Better Thing for Us
2023-10-17
Hebrews 11:39
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: (Hebrews 11:39)
All these men and women exercised faith in both their adversity and service. God Almighty performed deliverance or carried them through whatever their situations were. Because of this, they have a reputation of faith. Countless times they are used as examples in the New Testament:
Abel is mentioned at least four times by name: Matthew 23:35; Luke 11:51; Hebrews 11:4; 12:24.
Enoch is mentioned at least three times: Luke 3:37; Hebrews 11:5; Jude 1:14.
Noah is mentioned at least eight times: Matthew 24:37, 38; Luke 3:36; 17:26, 27; Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5.
Abraham is mentioned at least 74 times: Matthew 1:1, 2, 17; 3:9; 8:11; 22:32; Mark 12:26; Luke 1:55, 73; 3:8, 34; 13:16, 28; Luke 16:22-25, 29, 30; 19:9; 20:37; John 8:33, 37, 39, 40, 52, 53, 56-58; Acts 3:13, 25; 7:2, 8, 16, 17, 32; 13:26; Romans 4:1-3, 9, 12, 13, 16; 9:7; 11:1, 22; Galatians 3:6-9, 14, 16, 18, 20; 4:22; Hebrews 2:16; 6:13; 7:1, 2, 4-6, 9; 11:8, 17; James 2:21, 23; 1 Peter 3:6.
Sarah is mentioned at least 4 times: Romans 4:19; 9:9; Hebrews 11:11; 1 Peter 3:6.
Isaac is mentioned at least 20 times: Matthew 1:2; 8:11; 22:32; Mark 12:26; Luke 3:34; 13:28; 20:37; Acts 3:13; 7:8, 32; 9:7, 10; Galatians 4:28; Hebrews 11:9, 17, 18, 20; James 2:21.
Jacob is mentioned at least 27 times: Matthew 1:2, 15, 16; 8:11; 22:32; Mark 12:26; Luke 1:33; 3:34; 20:37; John 4:5, 6; 4:12; Acts 3:13; 7:8, 12, 14, 15, 32, 46; Romans 9:13; 11:26; Hebrews 11:9, 20, 21.
Joseph is mentioned at least 5 times: John 4:5; Acts 7:9, 13, 14; Hebrews 11:21, 22.
Moses is mentioned at least 79 times: Matthew 8:4; 17:3, 4; 19:7, 8; 22:24; 23:2; Mark 1:44; 7:10; 9:4, 5; 10:3, 4; 12:19, 26; Luke 2:22; 5:14; 9:30, 33; 16:29, 31; 20:28, 37; Luke 24:27, 44; John 1:17, 45; 3:14; 5:45, 46; 6:32; 7:19, 22, 23; 8:5; 9:28, 29; Acts 3:22; 6:11, 14; 7:20, 22, 29, 31, 32, 35, 37, 40, 44; 13:39; 15:1, 5, 21; 21:21; 26:22; 28:23; Romans 5:14; 9:15; 10:5, 19; 1 Corinthians 9:9; 10:2; 2 Corinthians 3:7, 13, 15; 2 Timothy 3:8; Hebrews 3:2, 3, 5, 16; 7:14; 8:5; 9:19; 10:28; 11:23, 24; 12:21; Jude 1:9; Revelation 15:3.
Rahab is mentioned at least twice: Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25.
Gideon is mentioned at least once: Hebrews 11:32.
Jephthah is mentioned at least once: Hebrews 11:32.
Barak is mentioned at least once: Hebrews 11:32.
Samson is mentioned at least once: Hebrews 11:32.
David is mentioned at least 59 times: Matthew 1:1, 6, 17, 20; 9:27; 12:3, 23; 15:22; 20:30, 31; 21:9, 15; 22:42, 43, 45; Mark 2:25; 10:47, 48; 11:10; 12:35-37; Luke 1:27, 32, 69; 2:4, 11; 3:31; 6:3; 18:38, 39; 20:41, 42, 44; John 7:42; Acts 1:16; 2:25, 29, 34; 4:25; 13:22, 34, 36; 15:16; Romans 1:3; 4:6; 11:9; 2 Timothy 2:8; Hebrews 4:7; 11:32; Revelation 3:7; 5:5; 22:16.
Samuel is mentioned at least three times: Acts 3:24; 13:20; Hebrews 11:32.
Though these lived by faith with no consideration for themselves, they did not receive the promise. They may have received some promises, as we saw in Hebrews 11:33. But they did not receive the Promise, who is Jesus Christ, in whom is everything pertaining to eternal life, redemption, wisdom, and spiritual riches.
Surely, they all were saved by faith, and we shall see them in the kingdom. “And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11). They just did not see the coming of Christ, though they saw Him through God’s promises in some form or type. The Lord Himself said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56).
Hebrews 11:40
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40)
Living on this side of the empty tomb is better than our Old Testament forebears. We spoke of this previously, knowing that Christ was sacrificed once and was our perfect high priest. The former Aaronic high priests were sinners like us, offering up animals continuously that never took away our sin.
They did not know what we know. They did not have the indwelling Holy Spirit like we did. David said, “Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me” (Psalm 51:11). Moses said, “...would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!” (Numbers 11:29). But Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever” (John 14:16).
The hope of eternal life was not as clear in the Old Testament. Solomon said, “All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?” (Ecclesiastes 3:20-21). But our Lord said to the helpless thief, “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19).
How are we made perfect, when Paul the apostle said, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect” (Philippians 3:12)? And again, “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (1 Corinthians 13:10)?
The perfection in those verses is speaking of the resurrection and the coming of Jesus’ kingdom. The perfection we have is the clarity of the Gospel and the indwelling Spirit.